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Pun Sib
He’d noticed the wrapped bundle in front of the restaurant door from steps away. Not expecting anything other than a delivery for the kitchen, Pun Sib was shocked to find a baby, swaddled in a blanket, placed neatly on the top step leading to the restaurant.
“Stoppp, no, no, no..” he panicked as he picked up the baby. He cradled it awkwardly in his arms. A quick glance around cemented the fact that there were no adults around. Just him, and the baby.
Oab
When Oab was informed about the baby, his first reaction was predictable. His face tightened and Pun Sib grimaced as he’s ready to get scolded. “You should not bring your personal matters to the restaurant,” Oab told him off.
“It’s not my personal matter, Chef. The baby was in front of your door. Maybe it’s yours!” Pun Sib talked back to defend himself and stepped closer to his boss to hand over the baby.
Oab stepped back, refusing to be a part of this, “there’s no way it’s mine and get it away from me!” He turned around as he heard steps from behind. His jaw dropped as he uttered, “you had a baby?” in Plawan’s direction.
Plawan
“What baby?” the colour disappeared from his face as he saw the baby in Pun Sib’s arms. He exchanged looks with Oab and shook his head vigorously, completely denying his association with the baby.
However, the next time he took a look at Pun Sib holding the baby, he declared, “you’re holding that baby all wrong. Give it to me!” Somehow, magically, he held the baby in an almost practised ease.
“Ter, are you sure it’s not yours?” Oab questioned accusingly.
Kluea
Kluea strolled in with his eyes zeroing in on the baby. “What’s this? A new item on the menu?”
Pun Sib sighed, “it’s a baby. Someone left it at the door.”
“I can see that it’s a baby, Pun Sib. It’s yours, right Plawan?” he grinned, always somehow still finding joy in rocking the boat.
Plawan rolled his eyes, “why do the two of you think it’s mine? It’s not! But that said, we should give it a name. We can’t keep calling the baby ‘it’.”
“No,” said Oab flatly. The baby is now weirdly in his arms. Saying no to Pun Sib was one thing, saying no to Plawan on the other hand, never worked. “I think we’re supposed to call someone about this. Not.. name it,” he continued.
Auto and Nubnueng
The two arrived soon after, with their hands intertwined. Nubnueng, being extra loud and happy this morning, grabbed the baby from Oab and started swaying and cooing loudly “aren’t you a precious little thing! You adorable little small baby!!”
Kluea winced, “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Phi!” Right on cue, the baby started wailing louder than anything any of them have heard before.
Auto, desperate to fix Nubnueng’s blunder, started rushing to the kitchen, “I can make baby food. Mashed carrots are fine, right?”
“I think it’s too young for mashed carrot,” Pun Sib said, flustered.
JJ
Just as they debated about what babies actually eat, Oab’s patience ran out. “Ter, call JJ! He’s a physical therapist, he should know what to do.”
JJ arrived no more than 15 minutes later. A scowl evident on his face. What followed was the most epic scolding of their lives.
“Ai Wan! I’ve not seen you for what? A week? And there’s a baby in the restaurant?” He rubbed his temples. “You guys are unbelievable. And you,” - he pointed to Oab - “why are you holding the baby so weirdly??”
Oab, now looking slightly dazed, mumbled, “I’ve never held a baby before..”
JJ scoffed and grabbed the baby from Oab, who looked relieved to be rid of the responsibility. He expertly bounced the baby in his arms and glared at them all. Soon the baby started to calm down and eventually settled in JJ’s arms. The other looked at the two of them in awe, completely admitting their defeat.
“We should stick to the kitchen,” Nubnueng muttered quietly.
“You think??” JJ shot back.
Methas
The businessman came breezing into the restaurant followed by his people with bags of what seems to be baby items. He froze at seeing JJ with a baby in his arms. For a moment, no one spoke. The confident and ruthless man has a notorious reputation for being completely whipped for his husband. He proved himself yet again as he approached them, melted into a puddle of emotions. “The two of you look heavenly together, JJ.”
JJ blinked at her husband, then at the baby, and then back to Methas. “Wait, no, that’s not what I called you here for.”
But it was too late. Methas was already gone. He swooned at the baby, “look at that nose wrinkle. You do that too when you sleep!”
“You’re imagining..” JJ started but Methas shushed him off with his finger on JJ’s lips.
“Let’s adopt him!” Methas’ tone left no room for discussion.
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Epilogue
Several weeks have passed since that fateful day and JJ still can’t help but replaying the call from Plawan in his head.
Plawan sounded agitated, “JJ, I need you at the restaurant. Can you come here quickly? It’s a disaster!!”
He should have seen it coming. Throughout his entire friendship with Plawan, almost every phone call was a call for help - whether for an impending disaster or a mess in progress. Walking into the chaos he can’t help but wonder, “what now?”. Little did he know that this time however, it was the one call that brought this bundle of joy into his life.
JJ stared at the small human being on the play mat with his foot in his mouth, babbling to himself. He jumped a little when he felt a hand wrapping his side, “you scare me!”
“Sorry darling. I just don’t want to disturb Euro,” Methas whispered as he kissed JJ’s shoulder. JJ smiled and he relaxed into Methas’ embrace. Suddenly, he jerked up straight, “hold on, who’s Euro?”
Methas pointed at the baby with his lips and announced, “we’ll call him Euro because it’s a good currency. Then, when we get him a younger sister. We can call her Dollar, or Pound. Wait, maybe Dinar. That’s the strongest currency now!”
“Wait, wait, slow down,” JJ scoffed. Taking a deep breath, he continued, “okay, we’ll call him Euro. BUT, there will be no more talk about a younger sister.. or brother! Not at least until he’s in primary school! Promise me!”
His husband initially looked puzzled at this reaction but soon started beaming at him, “aww, you want to have another boy with me?” JJ threw his head back in frustration jokingly as Methas continued bugging him about all the children they can have together.